Jesus and The Easter Bunny: A True Story
Here is a little secret about me: I was once an Easter Bunny. Yes, it’s true. This job was foisted upon me when I worked at a church as a young college student. The Easter Bunny costume had a giant head that probably weighed five pounds. I could hardly breathe, could barely see, and young children cried when they saw me. I was merely trying to be a blessing and delight to them, but they ran screaming from me.
That memory makes me think of how people who don’t know God sometimes respond to his kindness. And the Easter Bunny reminds me of this: I used to believe that Jesus was like the Easter Bunny. A nice holiday character but not a historical figure. Certainly not God. But a friend’s boldness and one special book convinced me that Jesus is and was real.
And unlike a teenager wearing an Easter Bunny costume, Jesus Christ is exactly who he portrays himself to be…
Photo of Easter Bunny with Jesus and The Easter Bunny Title
My search for truth began when a high school world religions course encouraged me to explore different belief systems and philosophies. My studies eventually led me to the Bible. I began to pray to the God of my childhood, and I discovered greater peace as I put biblical wisdom into practice. But I still did not believe in Jesus. The idea of God sending his son to die for my sin, forgiving me, and offering me eternal life in heaven seemed too fantastic to be true. Since I did not want to believe a lie, I began to pray that God would show me the truth.
“Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.” Jeremiah 6:16
“For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” Matthew 7:8
A few months later, in February of 1989, a college friend gave me a book called Evidence that Demands a Verdict, by Josh McDowell. As I read, I discovered the vast amount of historical proof for Jesus’s existence. McDowell then comes to this conclusion: Either Jesus is who he says he is, or he is delusional, or he is a liar.
Discovering the Way, the Truth, and the Life
The tenets of Scripture already worked in my life when nothing else did. Peace began to fill my heart, but something was still missing. I discovered the truth when I finally believed in Jesus Christ, the Son of God who died on the cross to take the punishment that my wrongdoing deserved. The Bible says, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9).
God’s Word also encourages us, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). In faith and with nervous anticipation, I asked Jesus to forgive all the times I rebelled against him.
Then I asked Jesus to come into my heart and help me to live for him.
Until that moment, I hadn’t realized how much I wanted the good news about Jesus to be true. But after I asked Jesus to be my Savior, it was as if a veil had been removed so I could now see clearly. The Bible tells us, “But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” (2 Corinthians 3:16-17). After I prayed to accept Jesus’s gift of forgiveness, it felt as though the weight of the world had been lifted from me, and I experienced sheer joy for the first time in my life.
I Once Was Lost But Now I’m Found
I will never forget my first Easter celebration after I made the decision to follow Jesus. It was one year after the Easter Bunny debacle, and I had come home from college to see my family. After church, we went to brunch together. My grandfather (lovingly named Big Preppy) looked at me across the table and uncharacteristically commented on my demeanor. He had a twinkle in his eyes as he loudly declared, “Little Prep, you look really happy! You must be in love.” And I’ll never forget the surprise on his face when I responded, “Yes, with Jesus!” My grandfather had noticed the truth of this Psalm in me: “I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame” (Psalm 34:4-5).
As a young believer, I assumed that following Jesus led to guaranteed blessings of health, happiness, and success. But Jesus never promised that we would have freedom from trials in this life. Instead, he said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). The Lord promises never to leave us or forsake us. He abundantly equips us through the power of the Holy Spirit, a gift that guarantees our eternal life. The Holy Spirit renews, comforts, teaches, guides, strengthens, and helps us so that we can live courageously, joyfully, and victoriously despite hardship and suffering.
Overflowing Life—Even in the Face of Death
Over thirty years later, I am still filled with the radiant joy of my salvation despite living with chronic pain and cancer. Decades with debilitating health issues have taught me that Jesus is faithful. His abundance is sufficient for my every need. Jesus provides strength for my weakness, joy during sorrow, and peace amid pain. He is truly the way, the truth, and the life.
Do you know Jesus? It is not too late to give your life to Him. Here is how to receive Jesus’s free gift of forgiveness and eternal life:
1. Admit that you need forgiveness and want to find peace with God.
2. Surrender your life to God by believing that Jesus Christ died for you on the cross and rose from the grave.
3. Ask Jesus to forgive your sins and help you to follow Him.
Have you decided to follow Jesus? Your next step is to find a local Bible-teaching church to attend. Are you too sick to leave your home? Call your local church and ask if they can help you connect with a pastor or other church members.
Thank you for reading my testimony! Please share this post with anyone who might find it encouraging.
